Calle defends farm purchase

STAFF REPORTER WINDHOEKThe land reform ministry has defended its decision to buy two farms from a company co-owned by Prime Minister (PM) Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and her husband.In a statement issued on Wednesday -seemingly to preempt Namibian Sun’s story - land reform minister Calle Schlettwein responded to a number of questions posed to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, some being asked in her private capacity pertaining to bonds over the properties.Namibian Sun sent questions to both the PM and the minister.The latter issued a statement in which he answered questions posed to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila only.Schlettwein confirmed that Seize the Moment Investment 56 CC, which was sold by Nicolaas Grundeling to the PM and her husband, bought the two farms - Duwib and Agenab - for a total of N$5.2 million.“At the time of the transaction, the sale of members’ interests did not require to be offered to the state to exercise the state’s preference right, and hence no certificate of waiver could be issued.“This was so because the Agricultural Land Reform Act of 1995 did not provide for such obligation. The Act was, however, amended to include the requirement to offer to the state any transfer of shares or interests which include agricultural land,” he said. Waivers and offers“It should be noted that when Mr Karl-Heinrich Friederich made the offer on the 30 March 2011, he had an already signed agreement and deed of sale with Grundeling, who at that particular time was leasing Farm Duwib. In his letter of 17 March 2011, Grundeling admitted that he had a written agreement, signed by Friederich on 20 December 2010, to lease with an option to purchase Farm Duwib.”According to Schlettwein, Grundeling said he employed all the employees on the farm, and should government grant the certificate of waiver, the employees would remain under his employment.During the same year, on 1 July 2011, Friederich also made another offer to the state for Agenab, a portion of Farm Goab, and for this a waiver was issued on 5 September 2011, which permits the farm owner to sell the farm on open market.Both transactions were sealed on 28 February 2012.

Calle defends farm purchase

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Calle defends farm purchase

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-16

Please login to leave a comment

Login